Insulator.



0. P. SWARTZ.

INSULATOR.

Armcmou man, SEPT.9. 191.5.

Patented J 11110 13, 1916.

FIG.2

FIG-1 messes.

main outrun srarns rarnwr ent ies.

OTTO P. SWARTZ, OF MOUNT PLEAELANT, PENNSYLVANIA.

INSULATOR.

1 T aZZi Jlwm it may concern:

,specification.

This invention relates to insulators used in supporting electric wires such as telephone, light and'power transmission wires, trolley wires, and similar conductors of electricity.

One object of my invention is to provide an Insulator of improved construction having novel meanswhereby the wire conductors are prevented from being grounded by water. and moisture;

Another ,O-bJect ofthe invention 1S tO pro vide an lnsulator having improved means for shedding water from the insulator and preventing a ground being formed by water on the insulator with the wire or conductor supported on the-insulator.

Still further objects of the invention will become apparent hereinafter as will be more "fully described in the detailed description and particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

Referring now to the drawings forming *I partof this specification, Figure 1 is a side elevation showing theupper end of an insulator constructed in accordance with. my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of thejinsulatorshown in Fig. 1, the section being taken on the line lI-II of Fig. 3. Fig. is a .top'plan showing the upper end of the insulator illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4c is an inverted plan showing the lower end of the. insulator of Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

In the accompanying drawin s the numeral'2 designates the annular outer body portion of the insulator, having a curved vupwardlyand outwardly flar ng petticoat 3 on itsupper end 4 and a similarly curved outwardly and downwardly flared petticoat 5-011 its lowerend 6. The outeror peripheral surface of tliebody portion 2 at about the 'n iddleof its lengthis provided with an encircling groove)? in which the wire or conductor is secured when the insulator is j in use.' The upstandingpetticoat3 forms a end 6 forms a drip 17, or in effect a double Specification of Iietters Patent.

Application filed September 9, 1915. Serial No. 49,703.

petticoat on the lower end of this portion of the insulator. The annular body portion 2 of the insulator is integrally oined to the cylindrical inner body portion 8 by a plurality of radial ribs 9,'three of these ribs being employed in the insulator shown, (although obviously a greater number should and will be used with larger insulators and a less number maybe used with smaller sizes of the insulators). The use of the radial ribs 9 provides openings 10, 1O 10 between the inner surface 11 of the body portion 2 and adjoining outer surface 12 of the inner body portion 8 through which water is drained, from the petticoat 3 and is prevented from coming in contact with the lag screw 13 used in fastening the insulator to a support. The insulator is formed of glass, porcelain, glazed clay or other suitable material. The axial opening or hole 1 1 in the inner. body portion 8 is provided for the lag screw. bolt or equivalent fastening means 13 employed in securing the insulator to the cross arm or other support to which the insulatoris applied for use. The central body portion 8 of the insulator and the radial ribs 9 are somewhat longer than the overall length of the outer portion 2, the

extra length being added at the upper end face for the insulator in attaching it to a support; The lower end surface 16 is recessed to receivethe head of the lag screw or fastening 13 or a washer on this end of the lag screw and the annular projection defining the side wall of this recess is beveled to a sharp edge to form a drip 17 which prevents water on. the outer surface 12 of the inner body portion 8 from coming into contact with the metallic fastening 13.

From the above description it will be readily understood that water on the upper end of the body portion 2 of the insulator will flow downwardly through the vertical openings 10 and off the drip or petticoat 7 without contact or liability of contact with theinner body portion 8 and fastening 13 and that water on the inner body portion 8 will flow downwardly, through the vertical openings 10 and drain-off the drip 17 without contact with the fastening 13 so that the liability of grounding or loss of current through the insulator when wet is lessened and reduced to a minimum. The use of the B58? AVMLABLE coxpetticoats on the upper and lower ends of the outer body portion 2 of the insulator prevents water on the insulator from coming into Contact with and grounding a bare wire supported by the insulator or with an insulated wire when an insulated wire is fastened to the insulator so as to prevent corrosion or rotting of the insulation on such wire.

The recesses provided in the lower ends of the inner and outer portions of the body result in the formation of spaced annular drip edges which are concentric and in the same plane, thereby readily shedding moisture and preventing the same from collect ing at the lower end of the insulator.

The advantages ot' my invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The insulator is simple and is easily and cheaply made while by its use the effectiveness of such appliances is materially increased.

1 claim An insulator consisting of a cylindrical body comprising inner and outer spaced portions and longitudinal connecting ribs, the inner portion and ribs projecting above the outer portion, and the inner portion having an axial opening and its lower end recessed, and the outer portion having its ends exteriorly and outwardly flared in opposite directions and having annular recesses in its extremities the recesses in the lower ends of the spaced portions forming annular concentric drip edges in the same plane.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

OTTO P. SlVARTZ.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenta, Washington, D. C. 

